TexasCHLforum.com

While I agree with most of what has been posted, and having options is generally a good thing, I wanted to make an important point. Do NOT think of the use of force as a progressive scale.

Most police trainers have tried to stop even using the term "continuum of force" as this implies a scalar ladder where one force option is more than another. The police are moving towards a circle of force where one person uses force and the officer can choose the appropriate response from across the circle.

The problem became that when a person was attacked by someone using their fists only, juries and the public started questioning why the police should use more than a nightstick to stop him. The disparity of force argument makes things not nearly as scalar as they seem at first. When someone has a stick, you might be able to respond with a pistol.

So, when you think of use of force, think of the attacker having used some force from one side of the circle and you can choose your best response from the anywhere on other side.

And to support the OP's concept, the more options you have to slice your half of the circle into, the better chances you have of choosing the most appropriate response.